Foundry machines



April 20, 1965 A. MAsl ETAL. 3,178,781

FOUNDRY MACHINES Filed Jan. 1o, 196s 4 sheets-sheet 1 April 20, 1965 A. MASI ETAL FOUNDRY MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l0, 1963 INVENTORS A TTORNEYS' April 20, 1965 A. MAsl ETAL FOUNDRY MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. l0, 1963 n s @www @my m/mm N mywma @A was 007W y c M 2? April 20, 1965 A. MAsl ETAL FOUNDRY MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 10, 1963 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,178,781 FOUNDRY MACHlNES Anthony Masi, 1437 W. 36th St., Erie, Pa., and John Di Prinzio, deceased, late of Erie, Pa., by Antonietta M. Di Prinzio, executrirr, 640 Brown Ave., Erie, Pa.

Filed Jan. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 251,468 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-48) This invention relates in general to foundry machines and pertains more particularly to a machine adapted to cooperate with the cope or drag, that is a molding fiask member, enabling the same to receive a quantity of molding material such as molding sand and to thereafter effect a proper and efficient compaction of the molding material within the confines of the liask member while simultaneously providing the molding cavity therewithin.

Various machines and mechanisms have been proposed heretofore for the purpose of making molds for foundry purposes but, to our knowledge, none of the prior art devices is capable of efficient and prolonged operation and/or prolonged operation in conjunction with many different types of match plate or pattern assemblies and consequently various shapes and sizes of mold cavities to be provided. For this reason, the production of molds for foundry purposes is still largely accomplished by means of manual labor wherein the molding sand is manually tamped, packed or compacted within the flask member, either the cope or the drag, such manual operation being necessary for efficient and effective compaction of the molding sand which, as is well known, is necessary for proper functioning of the mold. That is to say, the molding sand must be tightly enough compacted to prevent sagging, breakage and the like of the mold within the confines of the mold cavity after the pattern and match plate assembly are removed While, at the same time, the compaction must not be so great as to effect a denseness that would preclude the gaseous products from seeping through the mold body while the molten metal within the mold is cooling and solidifying.

It is, therefore, of primary concern in connection with the present invention to provide an improved Itype of foundry machine for making molds wherein the construction of the machine and the consequent operation thereof are such as to rapidly and easily effect the construction of the molds and while, at the same time, effecting a proper and effective compaction of the molding material within the ask members.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved foundry machine as aforesaid wherein the construction thereof is such as to provide for relative simplici-ty and concurrently therewith to achieve an assemblage which is readily adapted to complete the fully automatic operation. Among other things, it is an object of this invention to provide a main frame and reaction frame assemblage wherein the reaction frame is moved with respect to the main frame in such fashion as to fully and kcompletely expose the cope or drag supporting mechanism in one position thereof and which reaction frame assembly is nevertheless readily movable into operative position with a minimum of effort.

Still another important aspect and advantage and therefore a primary objective of the present invention resides in the provision of a foundry machine assemblage generally as set forth hereinabove wherein a match plate and pattern member is so related and arranged relative to the mechanism as to permit the formation of either the cope or the drag portion of a molding fiask, the match plate and pattern assembly to this end being automatically movable to inverted position so that both sides of the pattern are thereby exposed for use in connection with the formation of the cope or drag, as may be desired and necessary.

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Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide a foundry machine assemblage generally as aforesaid wherein the combination of elevating means, a match plate assembly associated with the elevating means, flask member supporting means and upset means are so related that the elevating means is effective to vertically interengage all of these members or means in vertically stacked relationship for upward movement into operative engagement with a reaction member carried by a portion of the machine and wherein, in the course of such constructional arrangement, the machine is effective to achieve a superior compacting effect upon the molding material such as molding sand which may be disposed within the confines of the flask member and the upset means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine according to the present invention showing a mold flask member operatively positioned relative thereto;

FfG. 2 is a side eleva-tional view of the assembly as shown in FG. 1 and illustrating, in full and dotted lines, the positions between which the reaction frame member is movable;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the reaction member as constructed according to the principles of this inven-tion;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section illustrating the mechanism for holding the match plate;

FfGS. 5-15 illustrate the principles of operation of the present invention and show sequential steps in the formation of a foundry mold;

FlG. 16 is a plan view of a system for completely automatic molding and casting utilizing the machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. l7 is an elevational View of the system illustrated in FIG. 16.

Referring at this time more particularly to FIG. l, the foundry machine as illustrated therein includes a base or support portion 10 to which are rigidly joined a pair of upstanding side wall members 12 land 14 which, together with the base 10 form a rigid main frame assembly for the machine. Attached to the main frame assembly and rigidly supported thereon in elevated position relative to the base 10 is a support assembly indicated generally by the reference character 16 which is provided for supporting, one at a time, a mold flask member such as that indicated by the reference character 18, it being appreciated that the term mold flask member as used herein is intended to be directed to either the cope or the drag which, cumulatively and when operatively interengaged, form the flask.

For this purpose, the support means 16 includes a pair of spaced uprights Ztl and 22 at either side of the machine and connected to respective side wall members 12 and 14 to which are attached a pair of wheeled carriers 24 and 26, see particularly FIG. 2. Each of these carriers 24 and 26 rotatably supports in laterally inwardly projecting relationship thereon a series of flanged wheel elements 28 and 30 which are positioned in horizontally spaced relationship with each other in such fashion as to engage the flange portions 34 and 36 of the flask member 18, leaving the main body 38 of the flask member free and clear at its bottom opening for engagement by the match plate assembly hereinafter more particularly described. It is to be understood that the two carriers 24 and 26 are adjustably mounted on the pedestals or support members 20 and Z2 so as to be laterally movable toward and away from each other to accommodate for different sizes of mold iiask members. Ancillary to any such change in size of mold flask members, it will be appreciated, as hereinafter more particularly set forth and defined, that the corresponding Vmatch plate assembly will also be replaced with form part of a Ycontinuous conveyor system, hereinafter` more particularly set forth, arid in which, `as is shown for example in FIG. 1, a feeding conveyor mechanism is adapted, in association with any suitable means, to sequentially feed mold flask members to the support meansV 16, the next sequential mold flask member for disposition in association with the machine being illustrated at ,421 in FIG. 1.

The two side walls 12 and-14 mount also the gooseneck thereof asis shown in FIG; l. YEach arm portion is provided with a pair of spaced notches for fore and aft positioning of the upset'assembly indicatedl generally by the referencecharacter 52. Thekupset assembly'52 includes an open generally rectangular body portion 54A provided at each side thereof with vlaterally projecting bar members 56 and 58 which are shapedy to complement the n aforementioned notches in the arm-portion Sllso as to position the upset assembly 52 fore and aftv as aforesaid.

YAt the same time, each of the bars 56 and 58 is preferably kgusseted as indicated by reference characters 60' and 62 in FIG. l, the gussets 6GV and 62 in each case being dimensioned so as to engage the inner sides of the arms 50 of the two gooseneck assemblies 44- and 46 so as to laterally position the upset assembly 52. In thisconnection, it will be appreciated that the upset'assembly'is dimensioned to complimentY the flaskmember 18 and isfpositioned in vertical registry thereabove. To achieve a fixed lateral position for the faskl member 18, fore and aft positioning thereof being achieved by virtue of the'flanges on the wheel members 28'v and 30, thelopposite sides of each flask member 18 are provided with vertical pins 64 and 66 as seen in FIG.Y2 particularly which, as illustrated in FIG. l, run vertically between the upper and lower flanges of each flask member and are positioned midway between Y the opposite rends thereof. The two carriers 24 and 26 are provided with latching arms 68 and 70 having notched end portions adapted to interengage with-the pins 64 and 66 and position the flask member 18 as aforesaid. Nor-` mally, these latch armsy 68 and 70 are urged inwardly toward the flask member 18 andlwhenthe sametis brought into position along the supportrmeans 16,-the latch arms detail. assembly 92 comprises a back plate member v110 which ris formed of relatively rigid material and the reaction astion in addition to the aforementioned vdepending leg portions 82 and 84and the'underside ofthis bridge portion 90 carries a reaction assembly indicated generally by reference character 92 andrwhich is cooperative, when the reaction frame 80 is in the proper position, to effect an eflicient and proper compaction of the molding material introduced into the flask member 18. For the purpose ,ofV moving thereaction frame assembly 80 to clearV the upsetrassembly 52, suitable means 94 and 96 maybe pro- VVVvided which,as shown, may be in the form of fluid motors comprising double acting cylindersY 98 having suitable fluid conduits 100 and 102, extending thereto and being connected, through suitable valved control means to a conventional hydraulic pump assembly not shown. One end of each cylinder 98 is anchored as at 104 to the main portion of the machine and the piston extending fromV the opposite endof the cylinder is pivotally anchored as at 106 to a corresponding leg portion 82 or 84. Obviously, other means formountingthe reaction-frame assembly could be incorporated in lieu of the pivotal interaction between suchframe assembly 80 and the main frame of the machine, but the aforesaid pivotal connection Vis advantageously used to conserve space and to, in general, provide a relatively simple yet efficient manner for mounting this frame assembly 80;

It is to be noted that the reactiony member 92-xis positionable abovethe upset assembly 52 and in vertical registry therewith, thereaction member 92 beingso dimen- 'dotted line position shown in FIG. 2, the reaction member will Vbe effective to strike off any surplus molding material whichrnay be piled upwardly from the upset assembly 52.V YBy the same token, it4 is to be understood that the primary function of the upset assemlby 52* is to assure a surplus of the loosely packedV molding material prior to compaction thereof within theflask member 18.

The reactionassembly 92u and( its particular manner of Vfunctioning forms an important aspect ofthe presentin- Vention, the function beingVY set forth hereinafter inv greater Sulice it atV this point to say that the reaction sembly 92 also includes Ya head' portionV of relatively resilient or flexible material. `As specifically shown in FIG.

1, the head portionV of the reaction assembly, indicated by reference character 112' generally in FIG. 3, includes a perimetral rib portion 114 and aV main body orV front n wall portion 116. The rib portion 114 may be either slep- 68 and 70`willl engage with the pinsy 64- and 66k and stop' the flask member 18 in the proper laterally disposed position relative to the machine. A suitable'mot'or such as that indicated by theV reference character 72 in FIG. 1

mounts each of the latch arms 68 and V7i) and is effective to withdraw the respective latcharms out of engagement with the corresponding :pins 64 and 66 in a manner more particularly set forthphereinafter. The motor-'72 may be electromagnetically operated, fluidV operated or the like and, in any event,it is preferredrthatspring action is uti'-Y ylized to urge the arms 68 and 7G inwardly Yand that the motive powerl be utilized to swing them out of engagement with the pins 64 and66. VMounted onthev mainv portion portions ofthe front wall 116 whichlie withinthe area of the machine is a' reactionV frame assembly indicatedVV generally by the reference character 80 which will be seen to include 'a pair Vof depending leg portionsy 82 andV 84 whichare disposed in straddling relationship to the side walls 12 and 14 of the main portionof the machine and which are-pivotally secured thereto by means of suitable trunnion assemblies indicated" generally by reference characters 86 and 33.V The-reaction frameipb'eingof inverted U-shaped configuration, includes they bridge por- 'arately or integrally formed with the portion 116` and, in 'any/ event,rthepresence ofthe rib'portion 114 definesV a hollow interior for the entirerassemblage 92. At the same time, the ,rib portion represents a relatively rigidified peripherall portion'for the headV assembly 112 whereas the toward andlaway from the back` plate member 110. A.

the same time,'this flexing action of the frontA wall portion-116 in thezar'ea as specified is opposed in the preferred y' embodiment of the invention by Virtue'of the facttliat the hollow interior of ther reaction assembly 92 is confined andv isolatedvso that flexing of the front wall portion 116 as aforesaid willV be vresisted by the rinternal fluid pressure in such vhollow interior. n

Whereas the upset assemblyj52 and the reaction member 92 'are,rwhen operatively disposed, in verticalrregistry above vthe flask member 18, thereis provided a match plate-assembly indicated generallyjby reference characy* Yter 120 which is disposed invertical registry below the flask member 18.V The assembly'120 includes a rigid subframe portion" 122 uponwhich is removably affixed iapattern well member 124 which is dimensioned to correspond and cooperate with the match plate 126 proper and particularly the pattern portion 128 thereof, it being evident that the depth of the pattern well 124 in particular must be such as to accommodate for the maximum dimensions of the pattern portion 128 on either side of the match plate 126.

The match plate assembly 120 is vertically movable with respect to the sub-frame 122 under the action of the fluid motors 130 and 132 by means of which the match plate assembly 120 is mounted on the sub-frame 122. The fluid motors 130 and 132 are double acting, being provided with suitable fluid conduits for this purpose and the piston of the assembly 130 carries a further uid motor 134 having a rotatable piston shaft extending therefrom and provided thereon with a suitable mounting jaw 136 which engages one edge portion of the match plate 126 and may be pinned thereto as shown. By virtue of this arrangement, it will be manifest that the match plate assembly 120 may be vertically raised above the pattern well 124 and the fluid motor 134 operated to rotate the match plate assembly 180 to invert the pattern thereon and expose the opposite side of the match plate assembly to the bottom side of the ask member 18. FIG. 4 illustrates the connection at the opposite side edge of the match plate 126, being by a further jaw member 138 which engages an edge portion of the match plate 126 opposite to that portion engaged by the jaw 136. The jaw 138 is carried by a suitable stub shaft 140 journalled in the upper end portion 142 of the upper end of the piston of the fluid motor assembly 132. Preferably, a spring device 144 coacts between the jaw 138 and the portion 142 of the piston to urge the jaw assembly towards the left in FIG. 4 so that the stop collar 146 held by the retaining lnut 148 bears against the right-hand side of the piston portion 142. By means of this connection, the retaining pin, not shown in FIG. 4, is simply removed from the jaw member 138 and the corresponding pin member from the jaw member 136 and the match plate assembly 120 removed for cleaning purposes, for replacement or the like.

To complete the physical construction of the device, elevating means indicated generally by the reference character 150 are provided for mounting the sub-frame 122 relative to the main portion of the machine and for the purpose of elevating such sub-frame 122 together with the pattern well 124 mounted thereon and the match plate assembly 120 into engagement with the underside of the flask member 18. The elevating means may consist simply of suitable fluid motors 152 and 154 having conduit connections connected to suitable control valve means for effecting the requisite motion as will hereinafter be specifically set forth.

As the upward motion of the sub-frame assembly 122 continues, the match plate 126 will bear against the underside of the flask member 18 and raise the same until the flask member 18 engages against the upset assembly 52 and slightly raises the same whereupon a suitable motion-detecting means such as the microswitch 156, see particularly FIG. 2, operates to disable the elevating means 150 and arrest further vertical upward motion of the component parts as aforesaid. When the component parts are in this position and the reaction frame assembly 80 is swung to the full line position shown in FIG. 2, the molding material may be introduced as is shown in FIG. 6. The manner of introducing the molding material forms no part of the present invention, it being obvious that the same can be accomplished manually or by suitable hopper means or the like manually or automatically controlled. In any event, after the molding sand has been introduced as shown in FIG. 6, the reaction frame 80 is swung to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the reaction member 92 will be in vertical registry above the upset assembly 52 as is shown in FIG. 7. When this position of the reaction frame has been reached, further vertical upward motion of the elevating means is initiated manually or automatically so that the parts ultimately assume a position substantially as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawing. This figure of the drawing also clearly illustrates the action of the flexible front or bottom wall member 116 of the reaction assembly the same being bellied upwardly within the confines of the hollow interior 170 of the reaction member 92 which, as aforesaid, defines an isolated fluid enclosure. At the same time, it will be seen that the rib portion 114 is effective to achieve proper and etiicient compaction of the sand around the sides of the pattern portion 128, particularly at the parting face of the molding sand at the lower side of the flask member 18 while the substantially unsupported portion of the lower wall 116 accommodates generally for the presence of the pattern portion 128 and avoids overcompaction of the molding sand in the region thereof lying between such pattern portion 128 and the flexible wall portion 116.

For the purpose of controlling the degree of compaction of the molding material, suitable control means may be connected to the inlet side of the fluid connection to the elevating means. For example, a pressure responsive switch or control valve assembly may be provided which automatically cuts off further upward motion imparted by the elevating means upon the attainment of a predetermined pressure in the supply line to such elevating means. As soon as this point is reached, the elevating means is reversed so as to lower the component parts to the relative positions substantially as is shown in FIG. 9 whereupon it will be appreciated that the upset assembly 52 once again rests upon its support arms and the flask member together with the molding sand contained therein rests upon the support means therefor.

At this point, the reaction frame assembly is swung to the out-of-the-way position and the finished mold portion 18 removed as is shown in FIGS. 10 and ll. At this point, if it is desired to alternately form the cope and drag portions of a flask assembly, the match plate assembly 120 is first raised as is shown in FIG. 12 and then inverted and brought back down again to rest upon the pattern well 124 as shown in FIG. 14. Then, the next flask member 18' is operatively positioned as shown in FIG. 15 and the process repeated except that this time the other half of the flask assembly will be formed. Alternatively, a series of a predetermined number of cope members may be first formed, then a series of drag members formed, etc. This has the additional advantage of speeding up the operation since the inversion of the match plate assembly 122 after each operation or cycle is not then required.

It will be appreciated that the particular construction of match plate assembly as is shown in the drawing represents an extreme condition. That is to say, the pattern portion of the match plate assembly is convex on one side and concave on the other, the net result being to provide a thin wall casting. Under most circumstances, the match plate assembly will be convex on both sides but the extreme is illustrated in this drawing to signify the capabilities of the present machine in conjunction with any and all conditions which may be practically encountered during use. When the concave side of the match plate assembly is disposed in upwardly facing relationship, the lower or flexible wall portion 116 still permits of accommodation for substantially perfect compaction of the sand within the flask. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the wall member 116 at least in that portion thereof which is unsupported and within the area bounded by the rib portion 114 is substantially thick and relatively resistant to flexure particularly when backed up by the pressure of the enclosed fluid confined within the hollow 170, it also being appreciated that the upper or back plate is rigid to maximize this backing up of the flexible wall portion 116. However, in all cases, the molding material or sand which lies immediately adjacent the inner wall surface of the fiask member 18 will be compacted to a degree suicient to obtain retention of the entirermass or slug of compacted sand Within the contines of the flask member. That is to say, bearing the relationships as shown in FIGS, 9,110v and l1 in mind, it will be clear that the sand must lbe compactedy to such a degree as Vwill cause the same to remainintact` without breakage such as would spoil the finished mold member. What is claimed is: y l. A machine for `making foundry molds, comprising in combination, Y

a main frame having support member, a support arm assembly on said main frame and overlying said support means, an upset assembly resting upon said support arm assembly, a reaction frame pivotallymounted on said main frame so as to be movable between a position clearing said upset assembly and a position overlying same, a resilient reaction `member depending from said reaction frame and positioned thereon to be in vertical registry above said upset assembly when said reaction frame overlies said upset assembly, y a match plate assembly positioned below said support means, said match plate assembly comprising a base,

means for a mold ilask a pattern well member mounted on said base and having an upwardly facing recess therein, a match plate resting upon said pattern well member marginally of said recess therein, and means carried by said base for elevating said match plate above said pattern well member, inverting said match plate and returning said match plate to rest upon thepattern well member, as aforesaid, in inverted position, and

elevator means for raising said rmatch plate assembly,

a mold ilask member resting thereon and the overmatch plate to Vrest uponthe pattern vevellV member, as Y aforesaid, in inverted position.' v3. A machine for making Vfoundry moldsVcomprising in combination,

a support having therefrom, Y Y guide means carried by vsaid main frame for supporting Va main frame extending vertically .35 lying upset assembly movable therewith toward said a mold flask member in a predetermined elevatedY position, elevating means disposed beneath said guide means,l a match plate assembly carried by said elevating means including a match plate disposed in registry with and below said predetermined position .in which ,a mold flask member is supported by said Yguide means, and

a reaction member carried by said main frame in registry with and above said predetermined position in which a mold flask member is supported by said guide means, 'f y nsaid reaction memberbeing dimensioned to substantially complement the open upper side of a mold flask member 'supported by the machine,-as above,

saidY match plate assembly including a pattern well' member having an upwardly facing recess therein, a match plate resting upon said pattern well member marginally of the recess therein, and means for invertingk said matchk plate. Y 4. vA machine for making foundry molds, comprising in combination,

a main frame including a pair of` horizontally disposed and laterally spaced` carrier members, wheel means mounted on each lof said carrier members for supporting a mold flask thereon,

a support arm assembly on said main frame and overlying said carrier members, Y

an upset assembly resting upon said support arm assembly,

a reaction frame pivotally mounted on said main frame so as to be movable between a position clearing said upset assembly and a position overlying same,

a resilient reaction member depending from said reaction frame and positioned thereon to be in vertical registry above said upset assembly when said reaction frame overlies said upset assembly,

a match plate assembly positioned below said support means, said match plate assembly comprising a base, a pattern well member mounted von said base and having an upwardly facing recess therein, a match plate resting upon said pattern well member marginally of said recess therein, and means carried by said base for elevating said match plate above said pattern well member, inverting said match plate Vand returning said match plate to rest upon the pattern well member, as aforesaid, in inverted position, and

Y elevator means for raising said rnatch plate assembly,

References Cited bythe Examinerv d UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 408,386 f 8/89 Moore 22-42 1,386,104 s/21. George 22-26 Y 2,559,647 7/51 Leger@ 22-49 L 2,588,669. 3/52 Taccone 22-35 3,041,685 7./62V 'Taccone Y 22--42 3,039,207 5/63 Miner 22-26 i .Pom-:Iori PATENTS 8/;61 V Canada.

' MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

MARCUS U. L YONS, Examiner, 

1. A MACHINE FOR MAKING FOUNDRY MOLDS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A MAIN FRAME HAVING SUPPORT MEANS FOR A MOLD FLASK MEMBER, A SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLY ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND OVERLYING SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AN UPSET ASSEMBLY RESTING UPON SAID SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLY, A REACTION FRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME SO AS TO BE MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION CLEARING SAID UPSET ASSEMBLY AND A POSITION OVERLYING SAME, A RESILIENT REACTION MEMBER DEPENDING FROM SAID REACTION FRAME AND POSITIONED THEREON TO BE IN VERTICAL REGISTRY ABOVE SAID UPSET ASSEMBLY WHEN SAID REACTION FRAME OVERLIES SAID UPSET ASSEMBLY, A MATCH PLATE ASSEMBLY POSITIONED BELOW SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID MATCH PLATE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BASE, A PATTERN WELL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING RECESS THEREIN, A MATCH PLATE RESTING UPON SAID PATTERN WELL MEMBER MARGINALLY OF SAID RECESS THEREIN, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE FOR ELEVATING SAID MATCH PLATE ABOVE SAID PATTERN WELL MEMBER, INVERTING SAID MATCH PLATE AND RETURNING SAID MATCH PLATE TO REST UPON THE PATTERN WELL MEMBER, AS AFORESAID, IN INVERTED POSITION, AND ELEVATOR MEANS FOR RAISING SAID MATCH PLATE ASSEMBLY, A MOLD FLASK MEMBER RESTING THEREON AND THE OVERLYING UPSET ASSEMBLY MOVABLE THEREWITH TOWARD SAID REACTION MEMBER TO COMPACT MOLD MATERIAL BETWEEN THE MATCH PLATE ASSEMBLY AND THE REACTION MEMBER. 